19th. Thanksgiving day for the territory.
A practical discourse from Mr. Ferry. Lieut.
and Mrs. K., &c., to dinner. The Indian Kwewis
returns to St. Mary’s, accompanied by Mr. Cameron.

20th. Mr. Mitchell passed the evening.

21st. Visited Mr. Ferry in the afternoon.
Conversation on various religious topics. Coming
home, found company; Lieut. and Mrs. P., Miss D.,
and Miss H., who remained to tea, and spent the evening.

22d. S. visited the infant-school in the
village, and made some remarks.

24th. Visited Mr. Barber, who directed
conversation to various theological points, and the
state of religion on the island.

25th. Christmas. The Catholics have
had the usual services, and have gone to the usual
extremes of a pantomimic ceremony at midnight, &c.
As a question of time, we cannot say that this is
the exact day of the anniversary of the Saviour’s
birth; but the computation and adjustment of dates
were made, I believe, on the best astronomical data,
and before the Romish Church assumed political power.

26th. Wind N. W. Depression of temperature;
freezes all day. Mr. F. visited me, and directed
my attention to the Mosaical geology, or account of
the creation, which he thinks the pride of science
has sadly misunderstood.

27th. Snow. No ice; not the slightest
bordage yet in the harbor. Lieut.
P., Mrs. P., Mrs. K., and Dr. Turner visit. In
the afternoon, the Maternal Association, at Mrs. Schoolcraft’s
invitation, assemble. I wrote to Prof. Olmstead
a notice of the falling stars of Nov. 13th, as described
by the Indians.

28th. Wind from the westward and southward;
moderate for the season.

29th. Wind veers to the east.

30th. A blow on the lake, creating a perfect
tempest. Before noon, the wind veers south-easterly,
and snow melts on the roofs.

Ackuckojeesh and band, from the north shore, visit
the office. He presents me a small mukuk
of maple sugar, made during the month, as a proof
of the mildness of the weather.

Continue my biblical readings, with a view of noticing
the coincidence of passages referred to by clergymen
who have visited me. Quite satisfied that “day,”
in Gen. i, 5, means, in that place, a natural day
of twenty-four hours. The context cannot be read
without it. Mr. M. and Mr. Stuart pass the evening.

31st. No thawing to-day. There has
been quite a blow on the lake. Began some sketches
of biblical geology.

CHAPTER XLIX.

Population of Michilimackinack—­Notices
of the weather—­Indian name of the Wolverine—­Harbor
closed—­Intensity of temperature which can
be borne—­Domestic incidents—­State
of the weather—­Fort Mackinack unsuccessfully
attacked in 1814—­Ossiganoc—­Death
of an Indian woman—­Death of my sister—­Harbor
open—­Indian name of the Sabbath day—­Horticultural
amusement—­Tradition of the old church door—­Turpid
conduct of Thomas Shepard, and his fate—­Wind,
tempests, sleet, snow—­A vessel beached
in the harbor—­Attempt of the American Fur
Company to force ardent spirits into the country,
against the authority of the Agent.